Improvement in air-compressing apparatus



' 2Sheets-SheetL W. D. SEAL.

I AIR-COMPRESSING APPARATUS. No.174,860. Patented March 14, 1876.

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N-PETEHS, FHQTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON D C 2. Sheets-Sheet 2.

w. P. SEAL.

AIR-COMPRESSING APPARATUS. No.174,860. A Patented March 14, 1876.

N PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, O, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

WILLIAM D. SEAL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN AIR-COMPRESSING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.1 745860, dated March14, 1876; application filed February 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. SEAL, ofWashington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certainnew and useful invention, which I term an Automatic HydraulicAir-Compressing Apparatus, designed more particularly for forcing ale,beer, or other liquids from cellars or vaults, which invention is fullyset forth and described in the following specification, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawing.

The object of my invention is to automatically compress air by means ofhydraulic pressure, which creates a source of power either directly uponthe surface of liquids or upon suitable pistons.

To carry out the objects of my invention I have two air-tight chambersof cylindrical form, but of different size, the largest one beingstationary and the other movable, or suspended on a pivoted lever,connected by flexible tubes and suitable swivel-joint. I cause a streamof water to flow into the large chamber, the air being compressed inthis chamber by the rising of the water, thence to the smaller chamber.

The accompanying drawing represents my invention, in which Figure l is aside eleva-- tion of the apparatus with part of chambers broken away.Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the upper chamber overcome bygravity, and in the act of discharging its contents, by way of hollowpivot L, to the lower chamber. Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles tothe plane of Fig. 1. Figs. 4. and 5 are sectional views of cock J,showing its two ways in the two positions.

Theoperation is as follows: I cause a stream of water to enter the lowerpart of the large chamber'A, Fig.1, through supply-pipe C, the waterrising in chamber A, and, gradually compressing the air in said chamber,continues to rise, and passes through the hollow pivot L to chamber B,thereby forcing the compressed air through flexible tube 1, thencethrough regulator-valve K, to surface of liquids. When the chamber B isnearly full, as shown in Fig. 1, the accumulated weight of waterovercomes the gravity of weight'E, thereby dropping the chamber B to therest F, as shown in Fig. 2. When as the outlet of cockG is four times aslarge as the opening from chamber B through hollow pivot L. Chamber Bremains in this position until nearly all the water has run out then,owing to the weight E, attached to lever S, it takes the position asshown in Fig.

1, thus allowing the flow of water through supply-pipe C. I prevent thecompressed air from returning to the chambers by cock J, Fig. 2, whichis operated by arm of lever S. As chamber B drops it shuts off thecompressed air on the valve side, also opens the vent J, Fig. 5, in cockJ, which admits a fresh supply of air to chambers A and B. As the waterdescends, air is supplied to chamber B through vent J in cock J, thencethrough flexible tube I. Chamber A is supplied through flexible tube D.

A union-joint at J is the fulcrum of lever S and chamber B, which ishollow, and connecting through from the lower part of chamber B tochamber A. The union-joint is kept tight by means of any suitablepacking. I

The self-regulator valve K, as shown in Fig. 1, is -to regulate theamount of pressure. desired by running in or out of the weight M onlever N. When the pressure desired is maintained it forces up theflexible diaphragm 0, thereby carrying up the valve-rod P, thus closingvalve R; then the water is checked by the air arriving at the samepressure as the fountain-head, which remains so until the pressure isexhausted by drawing the liquids, the compressed air being forcedthrough pipe T, thence to the surface of liquids, as several barrels maybe acted on simultaneously by a single pipe connected with each of them.

I do not deem it absolutely essential to use the large chamber, as thesmall chamber, with a pipe connecting with cock G to pivot L, wouldanswer the same purpose. My reasons for using the large chamber are,that chamber A being about ten times the capacity of chamber B, theapparatus operates once, whereas it would operate ten times if the largechamber were dispensed with, thus sayin grwear of parts subject tofriction.

I do not claim, broadly, compressing air by the rising of water in anair-tight vessel; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to, secure by LettersPatent, is

1. The combination of the air-compressing stationary chamber A,connecting with the moveable chamber B by means of the hollowunion-joint at J, and flexible tubes I and D, substantially as setforth.

2. In combination with the air-compressing chambers A and B, the leverS, weight E, and hollow pivot L, all combined and arranged substantiallyas set forth.

3. In combination with the air-compressing chambers A and B, the hollowunion-joint encircling pivot L, substantially as set forth.

4. In an automatic air-compressing apparatus, the cooks J and G,connected substantially as shown, and operated by means of the movableair-compressing chamber B and the weight E, as described.

5. The cock J and vent J, connected with the lever S, as shown, andoperated by the movement of said lever on its pivot -L by means ofthemovable air-compressing chamber B and the weight E, as described.

'6. The regulator-valve K, cock J, vent J, flexible tube I, and movableair-compressing chamber B, combined and operating together substantiallyas described.

7. The combination of the self-regulator valve K, weight M, lever N,flexible diaphragm O, valve-rod P, and valve R, in connection with themovable air-compressing chamber B, all arranged, combined, and operatingtogether substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WM. D. SEAL.

Witnesses J 0s. S. STETTINIUS, A. V. ROBINSON.

